Features Business Aviation
NetJets fleet agreement for 1,500 Cessna Citation jets over 15 years

Textron Aviation and NetJets on September 20 announced a record-breaking fleet agreement for the option for NetJets to purchase up to 1,500 additional Cessna Citation business jets over the next 15 years. This agreement extends NetJets’ existing fleet agreement and includes options for an increasing number of aircraft each year, enabling NetJets to expand its fleet with Cessna Citation Ascend, Citation Latitude and Citation Longitude aircraft.

The companies also announced that NetJets has been named the fleet launch customer for Textron Aviation’s newest jet, the Citation Ascend. Deliveries of the Citation Ascend are expected to begin in 2025.

“We’re honoured to be the largest provider of industry-leading aircraft to NetJets and look forward to continuing to work together to design and deliver the best aviation experience based on customer feedback,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation.

Since the inception of the more than 40-year relationship between the companies, NetJets has taken delivery of more than 800 aircraft from Textron Aviation, including exercising more than 300 options for Citation Latitudes and Longitudes during the past eight years. Through the years, NetJets, a Berkshire Hathaway company, has owned and operated a range of Citation models, including the Citation SII, V, Excel/XLS, Sovereign, X, Latitude and Longitude.

“Textron Aviation is the ideal partner to help us expand our offerings to NetJets Owners with the introduction of the new Ascend to our midsize jet class, as well as by growing our overall fleet,” said Doug Henneberry, NetJets Executive Vice President, Aircraft Asset Management. “Based on past demand for the popular Citation Latitude and Longitude, the new Ascend and all our new Citations will undoubtedly be well received by our Owners, particularly those who depend on NetJets to help them do more and miss less.”

Textron explains the Citation Ascend is designed to bring an entirely new cockpit, improved performance and a more luxurious cabin to the midsize business jet market. Preliminary performance targets indicate a four-passenger range of 1,900 nm at high-speed cruise power (with an estimated maximum range of 2,100 nm), cruise at 441 kts and the ability to climb direct to 45,000 ft. The aircraft will offer Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545D engines designed to deliver fuel efficiency and increased thrust, as well as Garmin G5000 avionics.